The first ever game between the Florida Panthers and the Utah Hockey Club took place Wednesday evening in Salt Lake City.
Unfortunately for most of the fans gathered at the Delta Center, the game went the visiting team’s way.
Another solid game from Sergei Bobrovsky was the backbone as the Panthers beat Utah 4-1.
The first half in Utah was uneventful as both teams seemed to get along.
A power play early in the second period gave Florida an opportunity to break the ice at the Delta Center, and they made sure to take advantage.
After collecting the puck behind the net, Sam Reinhart pushed it to Matthew Tkachuk and rushed in front of the net as Tkachuk quickly slipped the puck to Sasha Barkov in the right circle.
Barkov made a quick feint to lure Ian Close his way, giving Tkachuk free space next to the net. As soon as Cole started moving, the Florida captain handed the puck back to Tkachuk, who then sent it directly to Reinhart who was waiting in the slot.
Reinhart’s 23rd goal of the season gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead just 65 seconds into the middle period.
As the period progressed, Utah was able to get more rubber on Bobrovsky.
Bob was called upon to make 17 saves in the second period after stopping only four in the first.
Four of those 17 were high-danger shots.
Florida’s new third line scored a huge goal for the Panthers early in the third, courtesy of Jesper Boqvist.
He took a pass from Carter Verhaeghe in the slot and beat Karel Vejmelka with the glove to double the Cats’ lead.
The insurance goal came in handy as the Panthers couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, with Logan Cooley shooting Bobrovsky from just below the right circle with 6:19 left during Utah’s third power play of the period.
Empty-net goals from Boqvist and Eetu Luostarinen ended the hockey club’s comeback attempt and sent the Panthers back to South Florida with two points in the bank.
On to the Bruins.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Reinhart’s goal was his first in seven games.
Boqvist now has five goals and eight points in his last eight games.
He also scored two goals in Florida’s 5–3 victory over the New York Rangers on December 30.
Verhaeghe has scored points in three straight games after going scoreless for six straight games.
With an assist on Boqvist’s goal, Lundell has now accumulated eight points in his last 11 games.
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